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<p class="p1">1. What is the purpose of an interrupt? What mechanisms exist to transfer control to<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">interrupt handlers?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="Apple-converted-space">   </span></p>
<p class="p1">To temporarily suspend one program and execute another, for whatever reason.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>Interrupt alerts from a device etc. give control to the handler.</p>
<p class="p2"><br></p>
<p class="p1">2. List three broad categories of interrupts and explain the types of interrupts in each<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">category.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p2"><br></p>
<p class="p1">I/O</p>
<p class="p1">Alert</p>
<p class="p1">Timer</p>
<p class="p2"><br></p>
<p class="p1">3.<span class="s1"> </span>Explain the role of each of the following in interrupt processing in a computer<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">system: program counter; interrupt vector; processor status (word); second-level<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p1">interrupt handler; first-level interrupt handler.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p class="p3"><br></p>
<p class="p4">Program counter - where you're at in execution</p>
<p class="p4">Interrupt vector - what type of interrupt are you?</p>
<p class="p4">Processor status - what are you doing?</p>
<p class="p4">Second level interrupt handler - save all our shit</p>
<p class="p4">First-level interrupt handler - which device caused the interrupt</p>
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